कृष्ण बल्लभ बाबू: प्रगति के प्रतीक

31 दिसंबर 1986 को हज़ारीबाग़ के संत कोलम्बस कॉलेज के सम्मुख कृष्ण बल्लभ सहाय उद्यान में मुख्य-मंत्री श्री बिन्देश्वरी दुबे द्वारा उनकी मूर्ति के अनावरण के अवसर पर श्री दुबे द्वारा आम सभाको सम्बोधित भाषण के अंश

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सांसद पाण्डेय जी, हमारे मंत्री-परिषद के सहयोगीगण, सांसद साथी, तिलकधारी बाबू, साथी विधायकगण, कांग्रेस कर्मी, साथी-गण, युवा कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष, और अन्य पदाधिकारीगण, श्रद्धेय कृष्णबल्लभ बाबू के परिवार के सदस्यगण, हज़ारीबाग़ के गणमान्य नागरिकगण, बहनों, भाइयों, मेरे स्नेह पात्र नौजवानों और छात्रों!

स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के अद्भुत योद्धा एवं स्वतंत्रता प्राप्ति के बाद देश और अपने प्रदेश के नवनिर्माण के अग्रणी कतार के हमारे परम श्रद्धेय नेता कृष्णबल्लभ बाबू के जन्मजयंती के अवसर पर आज उनके आदमकद प्रतिमा का अनावरण कर के हमें अंत्यंत ही ख़ुशी हुई. बहुत वर्षों से मेरे मन में इच्छा थी कि हज़ारीबाग़ शहर में जो पुराने हज़ारीबाग़ ज़िले का मुख्यालय रहा है और छोटानागपुर का एक प्रमुख स्थान है, जो बाबू कृष्णबल्लभ सहाय की कर्मभूमि रही है वहां पर उनकी स्मृति को ताज़ा और कायम रखने के लिए एक मूर्ति स्थापित की जानी चाहिए. 

उनके सुपुत्र श्रीकांत सहायजी और कृष्णबल्लभ सहाय स्मृति समिति ने इस दिशा में कदम बढ़ाया. उनकी मूर्ति बनवायी और उस मूर्ति की स्थापना हुई और आज अनावरण हुआ. हमारे जैसे और भी जो कृष्णबल्लभ बाबू को जानते थे, उनके राजनैतिक जीवन से जुड़े थे और जो उन्हें जानते थे उन सभी लोगों के मन की मुराद पूरी हुई. उनके गुणों के बारे में कुछ चर्चा करना, अनुभवी ऐसी लोगों के बीच जो उन्हें बहुत ही नजदीक और करीब से जानते थे उसकी आवश्यकता मैं नहीं समझता. लेकिन देश की स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में उन्होनें जो भूमिका निभायी और इस प्रदेश के नव- निर्माण में उन्होनें जो कार्य किये उसे इस प्रदेश के और इस देश के लोग कभी भूल नहीं सकते. उनके क्रांतिकारी और प्रगतिशील विचारों से हम सभी सुपरिचित हैं. गरीबों के लिए उनके मन में कितना दर्द था और उनके जीवन में ख़ुशी लाने के लिए, उनके जीवन को समुन्नत बनाने के लिए उन्होनें जो कदम उठाये उसी के फलस्वरूप सारे देश में बिहार ही वह प्रथम राज्य था जहां जमींदारी उन्मूलन हुआ और ज़मींदारोंके शोषण और उत्पीड़न से जनता के मुक्ति अभियान के शुरुवात इस व्यक्ति ने की.  उस व्यक्ति को गरीब किसान और मज़दूर कैसे भूल सकते हैं? और वह जो नए इतिहास का प्रारम्भ हुआ उसके नायक श्रद्धेय बाबू कृष्णबल्लभ सहाय ही थे. ऐसे पुरुष कम आते हैं जो एक इतिहास बनाकर जाते हैं और जब तक वह इतिहास कायम रहता है, लोग न सिर्फ वैसे व्यक्तित्व को याद करते हैं और उनसे प्रेरणा भी लेते हैं.

मेरा तो उनसे बड़ा ही निकट का सम्बन्ध रहा था. एक पारिवारिक सम्बन्ध जिसे कहा जा सकता है और जो मेरे जीवन की राजनैतिक उपलब्धि है. उसमे उनका बहुत बड़ा सहारा रहा है और इस प्रदेश के जो अन्य अत्यंत ही उनके विश्वासपात्र सहयोगी हैं उनमें मुझे भी रहने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त था. इसलिए हमारे राजनैतिक जीवन के वे प्रेरणा के श्रोत रहे और आज भी हैं. अगर आज हमारे संग-सहयोगी मानते हैं कि प्रशासनिक क्षमता और प्रशासन को चलाने में मैंने कुछ विशेष भूमिका निभायी है तो इसका श्रेय भी कृष्णबल्लभ बाबू को ही जाता है क्योंकि मुझे उनसे बहुत कुछ सीखने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ है. इसलिए मैं उनका बहुत ऋणी हूँ. हज़ारीबाग़ में उनकी प्रतिमा का अनावरण हुआ है. हमसे मुख्य-मंत्री बनाने के तत्काल बाद ही चर्चा की गयी थी कि पटना में भी उनकी आदमकद प्रतिमा स्थापित की जाए जो निश्चय रूप से हम करने जा रहे हैं. कृष्णबल्लभ बाबू के नाम पर कृष्णबल्लभ कॉलेज की स्थापना बेरमो में मैंने की.

कृष्णबल्लभ बाबू ने छोटानागपुर और हज़ारीबाग़ में शिक्षा के विकास के लिए कई कार्य किये. और इसलिए मैं अपने कार्यकाल में छोटानागपुर का विकास कर इस क्षेत्र को प्रगति की कतार में खड़ा कर पाऊँ तो यही मेरी कृष्णबल्लभ सहाय के प्रति सच्ची श्रद्धांजलि होगी. ऐसा मैं समझता हूँ और इन्हें शब्दों के साथ मैं आज उनके जनमदिन के अवसर पर अपनी श्रद्धांजलि उन्हें देता हूँ. उनके प्रति अपना सम्मान प्रकट करता हूँ और आपको विश्वास दिलाना चाहता हूँ कि छोटानागपुर, हज़ारीबाग़, गिरिडीह, धनबाद और अन्य ज़िलों के विकास के लिए जो भी संभव बन सकेगा मैं पूरी कोशिश करूंगा. बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद!

THE LATE K.B.SAHAY: DR. P.S. MUKHERJEE

FROM THE BLOGGER’S LIBRARY: REMEMBERING K.B.SAHAY:4

  

Dr. P. S. Mukherjee an ex-student of Saint Columba’s College who after obtaining his M.A. degree worked as a college teacher for nearly four decades. He retired from service on the 28th February 1983. He is still active. He has sponsored a college, Ananda College, affiliated to Ranchi University of which he is the Secretary. Besides he is the Secretary of four other Schools, Secretary of Religious and Minority Association, Hazaribagh, Vice-President, Bengalee Association (Hazaribagh) and is connected with a large number of institutions in Hazaribagh. (Editor)

That the late K. B. Sahay was one of the outstanding residents of Hazaribagh, a polished educated and cultured person, a lover of his ‘alma mater’, his active participation in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Saint Columba’s College, Hazaribagh, the promoter and well-wisher of K. B. Women’s College, is well known to practically all the old and middle-aged person of this town.

Therefore the writer of this paper who is a student of Economics instead of narrating his life like the dates of his birth and death, education etc. would like to throw some light (although briefly) on how his efforts led to the economic growth and eradication of poverty of which we often read in newspapers and hear on the Television. Not a day passes when we do not listen to the ultimate goal of India that is “Garibi Hatao”.

The late K. B. Sahay who was a dynamic personality realized soon after he joined the Government that land reforms can go a long way in the development of the State by bringing about Agricultural Revolution which was the crying need of the hour.

Krishna Ballabh Babu as he was popularly known contemplated that in the context of economic planning the direct effect of land reforms is redistribution of income with a more egalitarian pattern. The transfer of purchasing power from the “haves” to “have nots” will in all likelihood change the demand constituents in favour of goods manufactured  by better production techniques and to that extent the economy may expect greater growth prospects.

Land Reforms occupied his attention in such a manner that he laid his fingers on the abolition of the Permanent Settlement Act which was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal. The whole principle lying behind Permanent Settlement was defective in logic, irrational, and inimical to the interests of agriculture which is the backbone of the Indian economy. “The Permanent Land Revenue Settlement of Lord Cornwallis in 1793 was a Himalayan blunder. According to this system, the land was held by one or at least at the most by a few joint owners, who were responsible for the payment of land revenue. The system was introduced by the East India Company to create vested interests in land and thereby cultivate a privileged and loyal class. This system was prevalent in Bengal, Bihar, Andhra, and in some parts of U.P., Madhya Pradesh and zamindars in these areas were treated as the absolute owner of the land. The landlords in most cases were blood-suckers. They merely collected rent and did almost nothing for augmenting the productivity of land which was essential for economic growth. The pressure of the population led to the general extension of cultivation and to greater demand for cultivable land. The net effect was that the zamindars grew richer, intermediaries continued to become affluent and the State was deprived of its share of legitimate increase in revenue and it was left to the cultivator tenants to live a hand to mouth existence- most of whom were denied even two square meals a day.

After achieving independence Sri. K. B. Sahay threw his whole weight on abolition of Zamindari and in spite of several hurdles got a legislation abolishing Zamindari.

The author does not like to pinpoint the various beneficial effects of the abolition as the paper will become lengthy and bore the readers.

The writer will now briefly mention another economic policy initiated by the Late K. B. Sahay. When Sri. Sahay became the Cooperative Minister, he visited Saint Columba’s College, Hazaribagh of which I was a lecturer then. I recall in how clear and convincing manner, he pointed out the advantages of cooperative movement including service cooperative. He pointed out that service cooperatives would among other things, arrange for credit to farmers in close cooperation with production programmes, arrange for the supply of fertilizers, seeds, manures, plough, insecticides etc collect surplus produce of members for sale through the nearest marketing society and arrange for surplus of common goods to members against indenter.

Besides agricultural development, for balanced economic growth, the late K. B. Sahay also directed his action towards industrial developments. I shall not go into details but just mention Sri. Sahay’s achievement in this sphere of the economy:

1. The Mica Syndicate.

2. Patratu Thermal Power Station (the biggest in Bihar)

3. Tenghat Project.

4. Forest-based industries.

5. Wood Processing plant at Ramgarh.

6. Match Factory at Koderma.

7. Pabra Lift Irrigation Project.

8. Katara, Sabrang, and Giddi Coal Washery Projects.

The Bokaro Steel Plant was also materialized owing to the efforts of Late Sahay. The Hazaribagh district contributed the maximum amount of land for the Bhhodan Movement through the endeavour of Sri. K. B. Sahay.

All the above shows the performances of Krishna Ballabh Babu. The author does not take the patience of the readers any further, but it has certainly to be observed that Late K. B. Sahay was the life and blood of Hazaribagh. The interest of Hazaribagh was uppermost in his heart and his death in tragic circumstances has removed from us a friend, philosopher, and guide.

One thing more before my pen stops. The Late Sahay was an educated person in the real sense and loved and admired true educationists. His admiration for the saint among educationists Mr. A. F. Markham (of whom he was not a student) was exemplary. I recall the day, when after becoming the Chief Minister, many people went to Nagoa airstrip to receive him and congratulate him. He responded to the welcome by others with folded hands but when he came near Mr. Markham he embraced him with great warmth and admiration. Lastly, I mention another incident. As Chief Minister the Late K. B. Sahay desired Mr. Markham (his most respected person) to become the Vice-Chancellor of the Ranchi University. The Chancellor did not like this and objected on the ground that Mr. Markham was not an Indian citizen. Krishna Ballabh Babu fought out the issue with the Chancellor and strongly maintained that a person who has dedicated his life to a college in Bihar (Mr. A. F. Markham lived in Bihar since 1923) is to be treated as a “Bihari”. The Chancellor had ultimately to bow before the arguments of Krishna Ballabh Babu and his determination to make Mr. A. F. Markham the Vice-Chancellor prevailed.  

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“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” 

                                                   -MAYA ANGELOU.